Gas generation



' April 1' 1924.

i,488,859 T. CURETON GAS GENERATION Filed may 31; 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet S gifatzzey A ril 1, 1924, 1,488,869

, T. CURETON r GAS GENERXTION per-unit of time.

THUS GUEEIO N, 0F DAYTON, OHIO, AwlGNOfl, TO THE RESEH COMPANY,

OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORIORATION OF OHIO. I

GAS GENERATION.

Application filed my 31,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THoMAs Cunn'ron, a citizen of the United States of America, residin new and useful Improvements in Gas Generetion, of which the following is a full, cleariund exact description.

This, invention relates to gas generation, and more particularlyto a method of controlling?- the generation of gas, and apparains for. carrying that method into efiect," to deliver a gas of substantially constant characteristics, to a Work device.

The principal object of the invention is to so control the generation of a gas, having desired characteristics, that those articular cheracteristics shall be maintains substantially constant. 7

Another object is to so control the generation of producer gas that the number of heat units delivered to a work device shall lie-maintained substantially constant offthe invention is to pro vide suitable apparatus for carrying out this method of control.

While this invention is generally applicable to any gas making reaction, it has been rimnrily worked out in connection with e generation of producer, or analogqus gas, and the description of the inven tion set out hcrein is based upon the ap lication of the invention to the controlling of a gas producer. As illustrative of apparatus for carrying out this method, in the controlling of a gas producer, two forms of apparatus are illustrated, in the accompanyingdrawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a diagramniatrc view partly in sectioniand partly in elevation showing a pressure producer operated by means of a- An hcrob'ect steam jet blower, with controlling appaisasumlcr view of a suction promuteriul, such as coke, anthracite, or bi-l;

Ctuminous coal. As. this blast passes through.

the incandescent carbonaceous material certuin reactions take place resulting the productionof s. combustible gas. This blast is en t ence the at Duytomcounty of Montgomery, and tate of Ohio, have invented certain.

1921. Serial no. no es.

either under pressure, as by means of spreesure blower which forces the blast through the generating chamber of the producer and 'the fuel bed contained therein, or under suction, as by] means of a vacuum pump or blower which tends to evacuate the generating chamber and. thus causes a flow of air and moisture into the generating chamber and through the fuel bed therein. In

therein be maintained within a very short temperature range. With a given valve setting, or given efiective opening at the burner, this temperature may fluctuate as a result of either a, variation in the pressure oi the delivered gas or a variation in its heat value. The inabilityto, control the generation of the gas so as to deliver heat units to each work device at a. uniform rate has heretofore necessitated close application of the operator. in order to maintain desired conditions within the furnace, or other work device.

In this invention the generation of the gas is so controlled that the number of heat units delivered to it given work device, per unit of time, is maintained substantially constant. fractio of the generated gas, from the delivery main, through a constant orifice, burning the Withdrawn fraction of gas, and increasing or decreasing the quantity of gas generated and delivered to the various work devices according to the heat generated by this burning gas. I

In Fig. 1, for example, a producer, or gas generator, is designated generally by the nus mcral 10. This producer may be of any desired character, the particular producer shown being largely diagrammatic. This producer contains a generating chamber 11 adapted to contain a fuel bed 12, of ignited or incandescent carbonaceous material, such as coulgor coke,;fresh fuel being introduced menace fu l d This is done by withdrawing a m thrcugh the open he macl'lim, The blast, which "Yim'e 65 air and; meisture, mmined m'agmrtions is intro- .L aerating chamber through which is connected & generaily by the .-.n get blowers, particuucer operatmm are) knswfsl and any of Hm bliowers will funcbiewasjis there k i116 blower 15 is intm the pips 16, this steam 33- desired seurce, and 11216181 any ingg, pre ame. As the n the blnwe'r air is induced, as a by the armws najacem the blower.

: moisture being "Wen mm n reacjmls Wi ihmngh m way.' as it 0L" Wm-k Gamma adapted iiomi type 0% 1mm each m? we used, This satthat is its keen @nce set, any very pressure or 21 Diebeen, heretafore, devissd maintaining the tap Queen 01', wimt fix/a delivery pmssu'e in me suhstantiafly 00mm. tion with mare the purposes these devices is adapie W'fiiliOIl of QM: was i1 ship exists en and. he Ciel Tihe pa PO-:9)

w 31113 (6- ing appnrwtus. livery main 1i tache a Ema-11m" 3}. 'Lhe base 501 fion which is thrw 23 ESAE E in f" k and in "em: 01" prawesi the my con'mnsuah an .1, in S5 is a a, 41 small sci" 'w 1 1 VGSSQ-F. Ems mzemor sibie hells-vs an. 111% wesssi quantity 0?? mpurimbie liqLi The s'essei -20 is m pasifnionad iahmflthe 1109;.

mmbustion sit 5319 s acco he P61 39 w 0 izhe is attached :0 $11 canitracs, and f? the link Ii am 1' me wawanfiamnal types heat generated will occur if agreater quan trty of gasjshurned', even though therebeflg no fluctuation in heat value, or if the heel;

its length, to" permit 'of e, controlling apparatus) Pressure within the 42 is directly responsive-to the heat generated at thehurner 31.. -Variations in the qustuient o the value fluctuates even though there be no variation in pressure; Tlieaxnountof gas fed to the burner 31 is dependent uponpres' sure within the'main If. that pressure decreases, as, for example, when the load.- is

increased, the amount of gas passing throughtheeonstent orifice 33.-to the burner 31 will decrease, and, therefore, the heat I generated at that burner willulso decrease.

T his will cuuse a corresponding decrease of pressure within the vessel 40 and sylphon 42.

The sylphon' will therefore contruet,-"end. rough: the lever 46, x-odltl, .and.

acting t operating arm 49, will vary the settingof the valve to increase the queutit kof steam passing through the pipe-16. hus the quantity of air and moisture passing through the fuel bed will he'increneed to increase thequentity edges generated to bring the pressure with n the delivery main up to the predetermined desired point. Dr suppose without/e113? veritt'tlon oi the pressure vithin the deliver-y mefin the heat value of the gas varies; As thisflheet value varies the heat generated. atthehurner 31 will correspondingly very, without any variation 111 the quantity of gashriimednndthe valve 50 will be actuated to'increuceior decrease 'tl'iequentity of blast. As it consquencethe quantity of gas gcmerutedwill correspondingly increase or decreaseto very thepressure within the delivery main, eta-that, even though. the gas generated thereafter remains of at constant heatveluel perecuhic foot, the quuntit of/gas passing through the orifice 33 will he Yltriedso tliet'the eotualnumher of heat nnitpdeliveredto the "burner will he r to the desired normal, And the co ditions which olbtcin at the burner .31 are entirely nnelogous to those which obtain at each work device, asfor exbrought bu niupleht each of the furnaces 23 and -24.

till

For the efiective opening of the valve controlling the flow of gas to each of the .fur-

naces 23 and 24 is a. fixed orifice, just as the orifice 33. So by maintaining condo times within the delivery main so that the number of heat unitsdelivered to the burner .31 is ineinteinedoonstent per unit ottime these oonditionsgwillalso insure the delivery of a constant number of heetjunits to each furnace, or other Work de yjce, per unit of time.

The control identical apparatus shown in Fig. 2 is ing and splphon in principle with that shown in" Fig. -1, and described above. The producer 'shown for Fig. 2 however is adapted to operate under suction. This producer, which is designated generally by the numeral 100 'is adapted to containa fuel bed of ignited,

or incandescent, carbonaceous materiullOl, within the generating chamber 102, the fuel fported upon a suitable grate 103, fuel hein introduced from time to time as neede' through the fuel feeding mechanism 104.

bed, in this'type of apparatus, being sup- The air and moisture, which reacts with the a fuel to cause generation of gas, is introduced through the pipe 105, the flow through this pipe being'induced under the action of the pump or exheuster 106, the generated gas passmg'ofi throughthe ofi'take or downearlier 107 into a washer or condenser 108. The details of construction of this washer are not shown, since it maybe of any conventional character; the gas being. introduced into the washer, through the pipe 107 adjacent the lower end thereof and passing up- Wardly therethrough to pass off through the pipe 109. While passing through the condenser the gas is subjected to a. water spray, which is introduced through the pipe 110. The plpe 109 is connected to the inlet 11:) of

the pump or exhauster, which as shown is of the gear or impeller type, though any other type of pump mu. be used if desired. 'For example, a, centrl ugal blower will function satisfactorily as a substitute for the impeller pump illustrated.

f ln the tom of apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 the nirfheing forced into the producer by means of esteem-jet blower, the proportlons of air and moisture are, automatically maintained, since the quantity of air introduced is proportional to the quantity of steam utilized 1n forcing that air into the producer. lnasmucl'i as the producer illustrated in Fig.2 is suction operated other means must he provided for regulating the ortion'of air and moisture introduced Any desired ring this pro to t e generating chamber. type of apparatus for accomplisl purpose may he used, but a saturator of the type illustrated is preferred. This satthrough the pipe 105 into t .e generating chamber it contact-s with this heated water andbecomessaturated with moisture at the temperature existing within the eaturator,

'By varying the quantity of hot weter intro- 1,4ae,ese

P a fuel bed of ignited carbonaceous material method in which the eneration of the as a fuel hed of ign a as generator.- adapt he of age for passingv a blast through'said generator,-

coutained within a generating chamber, the method of controlling the delivery pressure of the generated gas which consists 1n with,- drawing a fraction of said gas through a constant orifice, burning said withdrawn traction, and controlling the quantity of blast introduced into thegenerating chamher to accord with the heat generated by such burning fraction.

2. In the generation of gas, in which a blast of air and moisture is passed through a fuel bed of ignited carbonaceous material contained within a generatin chamber, the method of controlling the de ivery pressure of the generated gas to control the number of heat units delivered in said gas to a work device, which consists in allowing the escape of a fraction of the gas, which fraction is proportional to the delivery pressure of the'gas, burning such fraction of gas and controllinthe uantity of blast passed through the uel bell, thus controlling the quantityof gas 'enerated, according to the heat neratcd y-such burning fraction.

3. 1 the generation of gas, in which a blast of air and moisture is passed through a fuelgtaed of ignited'carbonaceous material contained within d' generating chamber, the

method of controlling the quantity of blast gassed through the fuel bed ,to maintain a efinite relationship between, the delivery pressure and the heat value of the generated gas, which consists inwithdrawing a fraction of the gas, the quantity of the fraction so'withdrawn being proportional to the delivery pressure or the gas, burning such withdrawn traction, an controlling the quantity of blastto accord with the heat enerated by n ction.

4. In the generation of gas, in which a blast of air and moisture is. passed through, itcd carbonaceous mathrial' contained within ageneratin chamber, the

is so controlled as to sliver to a work evice a constant number of heat units in the generated gas for a. given interval of time, which consists in withdrawing a fraction of the generated gas,whichfraction is proportional to the delivery pressure of said gas, hurnin said withdrawn fraction and controlling t e quantity of blast introduced into said generating chamber according to the heat generated by said burning gas,

5. ,Gas generating apcparatus comprising e to contain a fuel ited carbonaceous material, means and means responsive to variations in both the pressure and the heat value of'iithe genthe burning of such withdrawn ,ducer constructed to contain a fuel means.-

6. In gas generating apparatus, a generating chamber adapted to contain material which when caused to undergo a chemical reaction with other suitable material will produce a desired fluid, means for introducing into said generating chamber the material adapted to react therein in the generation of the desired fluid, and means responsive to the pressure and to the composition of the resulting fluid for controlling such in troducing means,

7. In crating c iamber adapted to contain a fuel bed of ignited carbonaceous material; means for passing a. blast of air and moisture through said fuel bed tocause the eneration of gas; and means tor-controling said blasting means to regulate the quantity of blast passed through the fuel bed, said controlling means com rising a pipe, containinga constant ori ce, connected to this as generating apparatus, a gen delivery main and-to a gas burner, a heat responsive element associated with said burner, and means associated with said heat responsive element to actuate the saidcontrolling means.

8. In gas generating apparatus, a producer constructed to contain a fuel of ignited carbonaceous material, a steam jet blower for forcing a blast of air and moistore through said fuei bed to cause the generation of gas, a valve for controlling the flow of steam to said blower, a burner, a. pipe connected to the producen and having a constant orifice therein, through which a traction of the generated gas may pass to the burner, heat responsive means as. sociated with said burner, and mechani actuated by said heat responsive means for o crating the steam control valve w:

u ate the quantity of blast passed'thro the fuel bed according to the heat generated at saidburner by the burning gas 9. In gas generating apparatus. a grog o ignited carbonaceous material, means for passing a blast of air and moisture through said producer and the contained fuel bed to cause the generation of gas, means for controlling the operation of said blasting;

lid

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meansg', a pipe having a constant orificetherein through which a fraction of the gem erated-gas passes to a burner and heat re are sponsive mechanism associated with said 3 burner and with said blast controllingmeans, the construction being such that the blasting means "will he controlled-to accord with the heat generated by the gfae'hurning at said harnerr- 'i 10. In gas generating apparatus, a producer comprising a generating chamherconstructed to contain a fuel hedof ignited car honaceous material, a hlast inlet in said genchamber end oiltlet therefrom, oelirery main eorinect' l to; said outlet, 8, ...m;; in said delivery morn for drawing 2L blast of Sill moisture into the generating chamber, vJi'thdillFWiHg the generated gas fem said chamber and forcing it under sure to a, work device means for operatpoinp; pipe having a coirstzmt 8 from "the delivery e the pump as burner connect-eel ic, zit which any gee passing pitoe may burned, at tem- 'ePfli'lSlVE eleice associated with A, end. means actuated by said responsive device for conclie gammy operating means to regblast passing through the fuel bed to eoco Willl the heat generated at the earner by the ti-urnin gas.

1L gas generating apparatus, agenerating chamber constructed to contain chemically active material, means for introducing into said generating chamber 'zL second meteriei adapted to react; with the said; first named material to generate a. gas, and means for separating a portion of the 1,4ee,eee

generated gas which is proportional to variations in the pressure of said gene-retei gas, and; controlling the saiti introducing means in accordance with the composition of such separated portion.

12. The method of generating a, gas which consists in maintaining it body of chemically active material within a generating ber, bringing a second materiel ectapteoi to react with said chemically active material into contact therewith to effect. to generattion of gas, Withdrawing the generated from said generating cimmber, separating a portion of the generated gas which proportional to variations in the pressure of such generated gas, and controlling the introduction of the said second material in accordance with the composition of such separated portion.

In testimony whereof I hereto zifiiii my signature.

'EHOMAS {JULIET-(EL.

Witnesses:

H. G. Denim, L. G. THOMASSEN. 

